Quinn signs visitation bill

Wednesday

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law a bill that toughens penalties for divorced parents who violate visitation orders.

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law a bill that toughens penalties for divorced parents who violate visitation orders.

Senate Bill 3823 allows judges to suspend drivers’ licenses, impose fines and jail individuals who deny visitation rights to a non-custodial parent without good cause. Once a license is suspended, a court can reinstate it if a person complies with a visitation order.

The legislation was called the “Steven Watkins Bill” for the Cass County man murdered at an Ashland home in 2008 when he went to pick up his daughter for a court-ordered visit. Shirley Skinner, the grandmother of Watkins’ ex-wife Jennifer Watkins, was convicted of the killing. She is serving a 55-year prison sentence.

A Cass County court awarded visitation of Steven Watkins’ daughter to his parents. However, his ex-wife moved to Florida and hasn’t delivered her daughter for a visitation since November 2010.

Quinn signed the bill without fanfare Tuesday. It takes effect immediately.

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